Michigan, Benton Harbor also pursuing Whirlpool jobs

State and local officials in Michigan have confirmed that they are lobbying for some of the jobs that may move as a result of Whirlpool Corp. closing its refrigerator plant in Evansville, Ind.

Benton Harbor, Mich.-based Whirlpool announced Aug. 28 it would close the Evansville plant, eliminating about 1,100 full-time jobs by mid-2010. The Evansville plant primarily makes top freezer refrigerators, with that production being moved to the company’s plant in Mexico. However, the company said its icemaker production and Refrigeration Product Development Center — which employs about 300 — in Evansville will “be relocated to a company-owned site yet to be determined.”

After the August announcement, Fort Smith chamber and city officials were quick to note they would pursue those jobs. Ray Gosack, deputy Fort Smith city administrator said in August that the attempt to recruit the Whirlpool R&D jobs to Fort Smith would be a “prime opportunity for us to showcase that the Fort Smith region is a desirable place for a research and development operation.”

Whirlpool’s large refrigerator and ice-maker production plant in Fort Smith has seen employment fall from 4,500 in early 2006 to about 1,000 at present. The recession-induced slowdown in appliance sales has been cited by Whirlpool officials as the primary reason for the job cuts.

Michigan officials are also after the jobs.

Pat Moody, executive vice president of the Cornerstone Alliance (the economic development group in the Benton Harbor area), was aware of the potential Whirlpool job shift out of Evansville, but would not talk specifics. He did say the Alliance will “always do what we can to maximize” the Whirlpool presence in Benton Harbor.

Bridget Beckman, a spokeswoman for the Michigan Economic Development Corp., said the agency is “certainly” aware of the potential move of jobs. Like Moody, she declined to talk specifics, but did issue this statement: “Whirlpool is a valued member of our business community and I can confirm that we will do everything we can to encourage their growth in Michigan.”

Paul Harvel, president of the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce, said meetings are scheduled with Whirlpool.

“We have had communication with Whirlpool, but on this particular deal I can’t really say any more than that,” Harvel said. “I can tell you that we are interested in that.”

Jill Saletta, director of external communications for Whirlpool, said no decision timeframe has been made public, but said “we hope to have a decision soon.”

In addition to Fort Smith and Benton Harbor, Newton, Iowa — the former headquarters of Maytag Corp., which Whirlpool purchased for $1.79 billion in early 2006 — has been mentioned by sources as a possible location for the R&D jobs.